Nets HC Jacque Vaughn gives honest opinion about Kyrie Irving's trade request
A day after star Kyrie Irving asked the Brooklyn Nets for a trade, head coach Jacque Vaughn got his first opportunity to weigh in on the messy situation.
When asked if Irving was letting the team down, Vaughn wouldn't speak for his players but did share his opinion.
"I think you have a responsibility as a basketball player like I do as a coach," Vaughn said. "I show up, I do my job every single day. That's what I signed up for, and that's my expectation for one through 17."
Irving's issues with the Nets reportedly aren't about money but rather over the team's most recent extension offer, which included incentives only met by bringing an NBA title to Brooklyn. Whatever Irving's reasoning might be to ask for a trade, it couldn't come at a worse time for the Nets. Not only did Irving give the organization little time to get a deal done with the NBA trade deadline less than a week away, but he's abandoned his team, who trail the East-leading Boston Celtics (37-16) by only five games.
Despite the optics, Vaughn said he reached out to check on Irving, not as his coach, but as an individual. Vaughn added that he would leave the "business side" of things to Nets general manager Sean Marks.
After failing to show up for the Nets' morning shootaround, the team ruled Irving out for Saturday night's contest against the Washington Wizards with right calf soreness.
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